The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-10-20

eynopsls Of the Annual Report OF
the Commissioner OF the cener-
al Land Office.
Fraudulent Land Entries and Rail-
road Lands Come In for a Very
Large Share of Attention.
In opening his report, Sparks saws:

cry Of public lands illegally seized or dom
mated, or the preservation OF the public
domain for actual inhabitancy by the peo-
pie OF the country, has been steadily main
tanned during the last year and has met
with the approved OF all honest and lava
biding citizens especial: from settlers seek
ing actual homes on public lands. Ihave no
word to recall which has hitherto, been ut.
tered touching the aggravated smisappro.
subjected through improvident laws and
inefficient methods. and to which they are
still exposed under the present wastefnl
and fraud-inspiring systems OF dis
posal. To prevent tho despoil-
ment and unlawful acquisition OF public
domain and to restore TO the people whose
heritageit is land fraudulently obtained,
have been objects constantly in view, and
there is no regret to express or apology to
pose have aroused the hostility OF class
OF men with whose interests they have
been in conflict. The operations OF the
past year have been, as previously, con-
Quoted under the discouragement OF
inadequate appropriations; but with
the limited means at my disposal re-
suits have been achieved that
confirm the earlier statements OF the vast
ness OF this field OF reform, the confines oi
which only have been explored. The fol-
lowing statement shows the amount OF
public land restored to the public domain
since March 4, 1885, and the amount now
pending action for recovery under recon-
mendations from this Office: Restored to
public domain within railroad limits, g..
95S, lit. Area within railroad indemnity
limits, 21,323,60O Private land claims,
$4,000. Fraudulent entries and can
celed, 100000. Invalid swamp and
other state selections Cancelled, $685.
704. Total restored to the public
domain, 31,S24,4S Recovery OF lands
within railroad limits recommended and
pending for review of secretary's decision.
IL, 300. Suits recommended for recovery
oil lands within railroad limits, loss.
Land adjudged by commissioner to be sub
ject to recovery under the adjustment Vi
railroad grants so far as such adjustments
have been completed, 2,S97,S69 Recon-
mendations made to congress to reject
private land claims hitherto reported fa-
vorably, 4, 732.479. Surveys ordered re-
Quoting areas OF private land claims, 629,-
500. Suits to vacate private land patents,
632, 255. Total. 9.499. 400.
OF public surveys in the various states
and territories the commissioner says:
made during the year were of lands for al.
lotment to Indians within the Lower
Brule reservation. Forty towns were sur
veyed under contract OF former years.
There have been many applications by
settlers for surveys in Dakato, but in
view of the limited appropriations the
sum OF $5, 900 only could be apportioned
to that district for the current fiscal year.
Montana-The progress in office work
on agricultural surveys was small in con-
sequence OF the totally insufficient appro.
s.. Il n.,
the year 1885 contracts were let amount
ing to S23, $50 for surveys OF public lands;
none OF the work was returned during the
year ending 1886, but in several deputies
made returns, the principal portion ol
which remains unexamined for want oi
clerical force. The surveyor declined to
make any recon mendation as to further
surveys in his district, believing it
necessary that provision be made for
the Office work on surveys already con-
tracted for before entering upon addition
al surveys. Important surveys in this
territory for use in suits in the courts in
volving pecunia iary interest to the govern
ment Of upward 81, 100000 could not be
contracted for at the rates allowed by
the present appropriation acts OF con.
gress.
He makes this recommendation:
The surveyor general strenuOusly urges
that congress should pass o statute ol
limitation fixing time within
which new claims shall be filed or there.
after required. Such recommendation
has for several years been made by this
Office, and / renew it as the first step re-
quisite to settlement OF such claims.
also urge, as a matter OF the highest pub
lie Importance, that congress take up the
cases re.examined and reported by the sur.
veyor general and dispose OF the same in
the light of the investigations that have
been made, or remit oil pending and accru.
ing cases to this Office and department foI
final action. - ~
SWAMP LAND CLAIMS.
OF swamp land claims the report says:
The claims presented under the act ol
congress relating to swamp and overflo W.
ed lands have reached the enormous
amount OF n, 4O7, ,273 acres, and patents
have been issued for 56.743,735 acres, al.
though the provisions OF the grant have
only been extended to fifteen OF the public
land states and do not apply to land in
notes Of the public surveys have been
adopted as the basis OF adjustment oil
! the claims OF the state to swamp lands.
Affidavits filed in this office and
information received from other sources
show that many returns OF surveys, es.
pecially in the northeastern part Of the
state have been falsely and corruptly
made in the interests of railroad and 9th.
er corporations having grants OF swamp
lands from the state or OF persons claim
ing to have purchased such lands from the
state and that many tracts valuable fol-
agricultural or for timber or ore and not
in any sense swamp or overflowed lands,
have been irauduiently returned as being
Of that character. A rigid investigation
OF these claims by competent agents has
now been instituted.
The report says: One thousand and
eleven cases OF depredations or trespase
have been reported upon, involving a val
ue in timber and the product thereof
amounting to Sc, las. 1856 recoverable
to the United States. The total amount
actually recovered to the government dur.
ing the last year by judgment files, sales ol
timber and compromises SO far, On record
in this office is $12S, 642,O9 being $53,.
642.09 in excess of the appropriation,
neurly all of which was received the first
half OF the fiscal year.
GETS CRACK AT CONGRESS-.
He scores his party in congress heavy
''side wipe for allowing appropriation
bills to fall, and says that for The lack Of
funds to pay the witnesses the suits
against Sierra Lumber company in Cali.
IOrRlA ana the NOrLneFn racine kaurO00
company in Idaho are likely to fall through.
Next year Sparks wants fifty special tim
ber agents and SI60, 900. The re.
port repeats recommendations 81
former years, rsGartling reform oi
the land laws. He recomnaends the
segregation Of timber lands Tor general
entry, the throwing open Of aband oned
military reservations to homestead entry,
q law authorizing process for Witnesses 10
land cases before registers and receivers.
the abolition Of land Office fees and sal.
aries Tor registers and receivers, the rera.
lation Of attesting officers, the repeal
Of the relinquishment law and
an appropriation Of $25, 900 uer
year for the employing OF
special counsel in land cases in the courts.
The report gives the estimates for Office
work and clerk hire for the ensuing year.
The total estimates are SO, ,4oS, 636 as
against 81, sos, ,480 appropriated for the
present fscal year. +. e,ssg2,.s 4,
On the subject OF the forfeiture Of rail.
road land grants, the commissioner d otes
from his last annual report and adds:
renew the Recommendation that forieft-
tre be declared in all cases In which 'the
roads were not completed within the time
md ffss skha snnnnar nnf7ikio,4nd 4. a.. ~